Meerkats are not related to cats at all...

Meerkats are not related to cats at all. Read further:

Meerkats are described as being a type of Mongoose. The name Meerkat originates from Afrikaans the old Dutch language of South Africa. The English translation is marsh cat. Actually they don't live near marshes and are certainly not related to cats at all!

The proper scientific name is Suricata Surricata(Class -mamalia,Order - carnivora,Family - viviradae).

They were reportedly first named in 1776. There are three species of Meerkat. It is suspected that there may be a fourth, but further research is necessary to prove this and details will be available later.

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